DC Velocity - September 2009

The place for space: Stanley Vidmar now offers shipping cabinets designed to maximize storage space inside quadruple containers (quadcons), triple containers (tricons), and ISU and ISO containers. The cabinets are designed for applications ranging from military operations to manufacturing to cargo shipping.

Vidmar’s preconfigured and custom-configured shipping cabinets use left to right and vertical storage space, and are said to provide optimal organization for inventory. Available in two construction options, the shipping cabinets can be manufactured with Vidmar’s standard cabinet housings or its new frame construction, which is designed to minimize load weight.

In addition to maximizing storage space use, the cabinets protect inventory from damage, loss, and dust and dirt throughout the shipping process. (Stanley Vidmar, www.stanleyvidmar.com)

Crane collaboration: Wildeck Inc. introduces a new material handling and storage solution known as the MezzCrane that combines a Wildeck mezzanine with a crane from Gorbel. The new MezzCrane system has been designed to deliver material handling efficiency and flexibility for manufacturing, kitting, packaging, maintenance, and other load-handling operations. MezzCrane saves valuable space by minimizing the required footprint for manufacturing or assembly operations, and it can dramatically increase material flow and efficiency in a fast-paced work environment.

The MezzCrane system combines all the strength and utility of a custom-designed Wildeck mezzanine with the agility and flexibility of Gorbel’s three-axis enclosed track bridge crane. The MezzCrane system enables localized staging and storage of work-in-process or finished goods above or below the mezzanine.

Five MezzCrane configurations are available to satisfy customer requirements. They include Crane Above Mezzanine, Crane Below Mezzanine, Crane Above and Below Mezzanine, Crane Below and Extended Beyond Mezzanine, and Crane Above and Below and Extended Beyond Mezzanine.

Depending on customer requirements, the Gorbel crane section will include everything “above the hook,” such as high-strength/smooth-moving enclosed track, crane bridge, rails, and trolleys. The Wildeck mezzanine will also be configured to customer requirements to include the required columns, framing, decking, handrail and guard railing, safety gates for mezzanine access, stair systems, safety ladders, etc. A mezzanine uniform live load of 125 pounds per square foot is standard, and higher load capacities are available. (Wildeck Inc., www.wildeck.com)

Cool efficiencies: Carrier Transicold offers a dual-speed option that can boost the fuel efficiency of its PowerLine generator sets by up to 25 percent when operating in economy mode. Providing uninterrupted power to container refrigeration systems used in intermodal applications, PowerLine generator sets also use an engine with improved particulate emissions performance compared to both the previous engines used by Carrier.

The PowerLine unit’s dual-speed option builds on the capabilities of the new engine’s electronic control module. It provides two modes of operation: economy mode and power mode. In economy mode, which is the default setting, the generator set runs at two speeds. Initially, it runs at 1,800 rpm, providing maximum power during the startup period. Then it automatically drops to a fuel-conserving 1,500 rpm for the duration of the trip. The moment the engine slows down, the fuel savings begin. By saving diesel, distances traveled on a tank are extended and the carbon footprint is reduced.

The economy mode is well suited to North America, where shipments often travel long distances from ports to their inland destinations. Arriving inbound cargo is already at setpoint, so the refrigeration unit demands less power and can take advantage of the PowerLine unit’s slower speed in the economy mode. Based on recent diesel fuel prices and typical applications, the dual-speed option can provide payback in just over three months.

Certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Carrier’s low-emission engine is specially built to handle rugged generator set applications. The new, technologically advanced V2203-DI direct-injection engine delivers green, clean, dependable power while driving particulate emissions down to 0.214 grams per kilowatt-hour, 30 percent better than the EPA Tier 4i (interim) standard. (Carrier Transicold, www.container.carrier.com)

Comparison shopping: Next Generation Logistics Inc. has added real-time transportation benchmarking functionality to its FreightMaster TMS Suite transportation management system. The NGLRateComp enhancement allows companies to load internally generated or externally purchased benchmark rates by freight lane into the FreightMaster TMS and have the system automatically compare existing rates to the benchmark rates.

NGLRateComp will make it easier for users of the FreightMaster TMS to find out how their rates compare to those in the marketplace. (Next Generation Logistics Inc., www.nextgeneration.com)